Heat Pump Hot Water System
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Heat Pump Hot Water Systems in Perth
A heat pump hot water system is an electric hot water system, but instead of relying mainly on an electric element to heat the water, it uses heat from the surrounding air and transfers that heat into the water stored in the tank.
The easiest way to think of it is a bit like an air conditioner working in reverse. It uses a fan, refrigerant and compressor to collect heat from the air and use that energy to heat your hot water. Because it is moving heat rather than creating all of the heat directly with an electric element, it can use considerably less electricity than a conventional electric storage system.
Why are heat pumps becoming so popular?
For a lot of homes, the big attraction is energy use. Heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient ways of producing stored hot water, particularly if you are moving away from gas or replacing a conventional electric storage system.
They can also work really well with solar panels. Many modern heat pumps have timers or smart controls that let you schedule more of the heating during the day while your solar panels are producing power, then store that hot water for later.
That does not automatically make a heat pump the best choice for every house. They cost more upfront than a basic electric storage system, they need the right location and they are a more complex appliance. The whole setup needs to make sense for the property.
How does a heat pump actually heat the water?
A fan draws air through the heat pump and the system collects heat from that air. A compressor then raises the temperature and transfers that heat into the water in the storage tank. The process continues until the stored water reaches the required temperature.
Most residential heat pumps also have an electric booster or backup element. Depending on the model and settings, this can help with recovery or provide additional heating when required.
Because there is still a storage tank, you can use the stored hot water faster than the system can replace it. That is why tank size and recovery still matter when choosing a heat pump.
Choosing a heat pump is about more than the tank size
With a heat pump, we look at the amount of hot water the household uses, but we also look closely at where the unit is going, how much room is available around it, whether noise could be an issue, and how the home uses electricity.
Recovery is worth thinking about as well. Different heat pumps can reheat the tank at very different rates, so two systems with a similar tank capacity do not necessarily perform the same way after a period of heavy hot water use.
If you have solar panels, we also look at whether the system can be scheduled to do more of its heating during the day. Sometimes the best setup is not simply the biggest tank or the most expensive heat pump. It is the one that fits the way the home actually operates.
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Pros of heat pump hot water
- Very energy efficient. Heat pumps can use substantially less electricity to heat water than a conventional electric storage system because they transfer heat from the surrounding air rather than creating all of the heat directly with an element.
- They can work really well with solar panels. Timers and smart controls on many modern systems can help move more of the water heating into daytime solar production hours.
- No gas supply is required. Heat pumps can be a good option for people wanting to move away from gas or for properties without gas available.
- You still have a tank of hot water stored and ready to use. A correctly selected system can provide plenty of hot water for normal household demand.
- There is a growing range of sizes and system styles available, including all-in-one and split systems, which gives us more options for different properties and household demand.
- Some modern systems offer useful controls such as timers, operating modes, Wi-Fi monitoring and scheduling, depending on the make and model.
Cons of heat pump hot water
- The upfront cost is generally higher than a conventional electric storage system, although lower running costs can help offset that over time.
- They need the right location. Heat pumps move a lot of air, so there are clearance and airflow requirements that need to be considered when deciding where the unit can go.
- There is some noise. The fan and compressor make noise while the heat pump is operating, so we need to think about bedrooms, neighbours and tight side access when choosing a location.
- Recovery can vary between systems. Some heat pumps reheat the tank faster than others, so the right system needs to be matched to the household rather than chosen on tank litres alone.
- They are more complex than a basic electric storage system. There is a compressor, fan, refrigerant circuit, electronics and controls as well as the storage tank, so repairs can be more involved if something goes wrong.
- They still have storage-system maintenance to consider. Depending on the model, the tank, sacrificial anode, relief valves and tempering valve can all need attention as the system ages, along with the heat pump components themselves.
What about noise and location?
This is one of the biggest differences between a heat pump and a normal storage tank. A heat pump needs to move air while it is heating, and the fan and compressor make some noise while they are running.
That does not mean they are excessively noisy, but location matters. Putting one directly outside a bedroom window, beside a neighbour or into a tight area without enough airflow may not be the best choice. We look at the available space and the manufacturer requirements before recommending where it should go.
Heat pumps and solar panels
If you already have solar panels, a heat pump can be a very good way to use more of the electricity you are producing during the day. Rather than heating whenever it happens to need hot water, many systems can be scheduled so more of the heating happens during the stronger solar-production period.
The heat pump then stores that energy as hot water for you to use later. How much benefit you get depends on the system, your solar production, your hot water use and how the controls are set up, so we look at it as part of the overall hot water setup rather than assuming solar automatically makes one system the right choice.
When does a heat pump make sense?
If your existing heat pump has been working well and suits the amount of hot water your household uses, replacing it with another heat pump can make a lot of sense. The electrical and plumbing setup is already there, and you already know whether this type of system suits the property.
That does not mean the replacement has to be exactly the same make, model or tank size. Heat pump technology and controls continue to change, so when replacement time comes we can look at what you had, what you liked about it, what you did not, and whether another model or size would suit the home better.
When might another option make more sense?
A heat pump may not be the right fit if the installation location is difficult, noise is likely to be an issue, the upfront cost does not suit the budget, or another type of hot water system better matches what you want from the property.
Your priorities might also change. You may care most about keeping the replacement simple, want continuous hot water, need a different recovery rate, or have a different plan for the way the home uses gas and electricity. Those are all good reasons to compare the options rather than automatically choosing one type of system.
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Not sure whether a heat pump is right for you?
If you are looking at replacing your hot water system and you are considering a heat pump, give Houseworks a call.
We can come out, look at what you currently have, where a new system could go and how your household uses hot water, then talk you through the options that make sense for your home.